Moving-picture toy.



nmins'r w. DAVIS.

. jcinoaoo OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO EGBERT B. BULL, 0C8

, ILLINQIS.

MOVING-PICTURE TOY.

' Application filed October Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

4, 1909. Serial No. 520.784.-

( all w/iom ttgnay concern:

Be 1t, known that 1, Banner W. Davis, a

citizen oftt he United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illmois, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Moving- Picture Toys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to moving picture toys in which the appearance of motion is due to the persistence of vision and relates especially to the type known the zoetrope, in which the interruptions in vision are caused by the passage of slits, in a rotating cylinder, across the line of vision.

The objects of my invention are to provide a toyof the class described, which is of simple col'istruction; which can be manufactured at a low cost; and which can be packed within small compass. I attain these objects by the form of construction illustrated'in the accompanying drawin which shows the preferred embodiment 0 my invention and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the com-- lete toy as it appears in operation; and l ig. 2- a view of the toy flattened. outfor convenience in transportation.

Similar characters of reference Indicate similar parts throughout.

1 is a band of sheet material, prderably heavy paper or card board, on which is printed, or otherwise impressed, a series of pictures 2, which represent the successive attitudes of a figure, or figures in motion. The band is provided with a number of slits 3 and is further provided with means for securing together the ends of said band i to form a cylinder openat both ends. The

ends of the band 1 may be secured together by means of a double tongue 4, at one and of the band and two slots 5 at the other end. When the tongue 4. is inserted in the slots 5, the band 1 is then formed into a cylinder, as illustrated in'the perspective view, Fig. 1. Or,.the ends of the band 1 may be gummed for the same purpose. .In order to support and rotate the cylindrical band thus formed, a number of threads or cords 6' ate secured to the band, near its upper edge, the free ends of the cords 6 being tied in aknot 7. When the knot '7 is held between the thumb and fin er and the band 1 is suspended by the cor s 6, the band 1 is free to rotate in an approximately conslant plane of rotation. It now the knot 7 is rolled between the thumb and finger, the cords (S .will be twisted upon each. other and theaci ion of gravity and the twisted cords will cause rotation] of the band 1.

The slits 3 in the band 1 are so spaced that uponrotation of said band, the vision through each slit shows the pictures 2 in a position seen through, the preceding slit. The progressive stages of movement thus seen in rapid succession. gives the ei'l'ect of moving pictures, as will be readily understood.

The outer surface or the band 1 preferably made, black in order to prevent, as far possible, any light entering an ooservers eye, except the light reflected from the printed pictures on the inner surface of the band.

\Vhat I claim particularly as being new and us or and that for which I desire to secure .aietters Patent, is the manner of con .structing the cylinder in the form of a fiat band, for convenience in shipping; and the cheap, but eliicient' method of siu'iporting and rotating the cylinder. Toys of this class as previously constructed were too pensive to make and were of too great bulk to be manufactured extensively. The were used principally as a scientific curiosity, while the improved toy, which will cost but a fraction of a cent, can be made in large quantities and sold very cheaply, or dis' trihutvd as advertising novelties.

It is obvious that the pictures could be printed on separate strips oi paper and instruction here shown could be otherwise m dified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

moving picture toys have been made with rotatable slitted cylinders, having pictures on the inner surface thereof. I therefore do not claim such a combination broadly; but

I claim:

1. In a moving picture toy, the combination of a slitted band having a series of pie-- tures thereon; means for detachahly securing together the ends of said a cylinder; and means for supporting and rotating said. cylinder.

sorted in the band, or that the specific conl. am aware that prior to my invention,

2. In a moving picture toy the comhina 1 position slightly advanced in relation to the l band to form tion of a siitted, pictured band; means for attaching together the ends of said band to form a cylinder; means for supporting said cylinder from above its center of gravity; and means for rotating said cylinder.

3. In a movin' picture to the combination of a rotatab'e slitted cy inder having a series of pictures on its'inncr surface; and two or more threads, or cords attached to said cylinder in such manner as to cause rotation of said cylinder when said cords are twisted about eachother and when said cylinder is supported by said twisted cords.

In a moving picture toy, the combination of a slitted band havinga series of pictux-es thereon; means for securing together the ends of said band to form a cylinder; andtwo or more threads,

or cords attached 7 to said bend in such manner us to cause tating said cylindrical ban rotation of said band when said band is formed into a cylinder and when said cords are twisted about each other and when said cylindrical band is supported by said twisted cords.

5. In a moving picture toy, the combination of a slitted band having 211 series of pictures thereon, said band being provided with a tongue at one end and one or more slots in the other end, said slots to receive said tongue and thereby form said hand into a cylinder; and means for-su porting and m- In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 1st da of October A. D. 1909.

E' NEST W'. DAVIS. Witnesses:

- ELMER R. Co'RWIN,

A. W. BRYANT. 

